CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA

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Meeting held electronically and open to public attendance
Council Chamber, City Hall

We recognize and respect that New Westminster is on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Halkomelem speaking peoples. We acknowledge that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. As a City, we are learning and building relationships with the people whose lands we are on.

 

LIVE WEBCAST: Please note City Council Meetings, Public Hearings, Council Workshops and some Special City Council Meetings are streamed online and are accessible through the City’s website at http://www.newwestcity.ca/council  


The Mayor will open the meeting and provide a land acknowledgement.

Urgent/time sensitive matters only

Following up from the motion from February 13, 2023, this report accompanies a presentation to Council and proclamation related to A Year of Truth.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council receive the presentation regarding A Year of Truth.

    THAT Council direct Mayor Johnstone to proclaim March 2023 to March 2024 A Year of Truth.

To provide Council with initial information relating to the impacts that extending the school zone speed limit hours could have on road safety and City resources.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council receive this report for information.

The purpose of this report is to: present key findings from the 2022 outdoor pool season and 2023 outdoor pool public engagement survey results; and present the preliminary 2023 outdoor pools operating schedules.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT this report be received for information.

To provide Council with information regarding some of the implications of transferring the City’s recycling program to Recycle BC.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council receive this report for information.

If Council decides, all the recommendations in the reports on the Consent Agenda can be approved in one motion, without discussion. If Council wishes to discuss a report, that report is removed from the Consent Agenda. A report may be removed in order to discuss it, because someone wants to vote against the report’s recommendation, or because someone has a conflict of interest with the report. Any reports not removed from the Consent Agenda are passed without discussion.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council adopt the recommendations for items # on consent.

To provide Council with an update regarding an air quality permit application under consideration by Metro Vancouver, and to seek Council’s feedback to support staff in responding to Metro Vancouver’s invitation for comment.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council direct staff to share feedback received from Council to Metro Vancouver as part of the Environmental Protection Notice process.

To seek authority to execute the Amendment of the License Agreement between the City and BC Hydro and Power Authority for the temporary use of a portion of the BC Hydro property located at 2144, 2150 London Street; 2137, 2139 Dublin Street.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the Amendment to extend the License to Occupy Agreement for the temporary use of a portion of BC Hydro property, substantially in the form inlcuded as Attachment “A“ of this report.

To seek Council’s approval to continue to defer recruitment and extend committee appointments from the end of March 2023 to June 1 2023.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council direct staff to defer the 2023 recruitment process until June 2023 for all non-planning committees; and

    THAT Council extend all committee appointments that would expire at the end of March 2023 to June 1, 2023.

To bring before Council for approval a Notice of Motion Process Policy and corresponding amendment to the Council Procedure Bylaw.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council adopt the Notice of Motion Process Policy in Attachment 1 and give first, second and third reading to Council Procedure Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 8385, 2023 in Attachment 2.

This report outlines details of a proposed new Site-Wide Liquor Licensing Program for Special Events, and the associated guidelines event organizers must follow in order to participate in the program.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council directs staff to implement the Site-Wide Liquor Licensing Program using the proposed guidelines for Special Events;

    THAT Council direct staff to seek feedback from businesses on the proposed Site-Wide Liquor Licensing for Special Events.

  • Recommendation:
    1. Council directs staff to implement the Site-Wide Liquor Licensing Program using the proposed guidelines for Special Events.
    2. Council directs staff to seek feedback from businesses on the proposed Site-Wide Liquor Licensing for Special Events.
    3. Council provide alternate direction.

The purpose of this report is to share a summary of progress towards the Urban Reforestation and Biodiversity Enhancement Initiative (referred to as “URBEI”) and to seek approval to plant new trees on a portion of City Hall lands to help reach the URBEI tree planting target intended to accelerate the broader goals in the Urban Forest Management Strategy (2016) climate emergency response (Bold Step #6).

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council receive this progress update on the Urban Reforestation and Biodiversity Enhancement Initiative; and

    THAT Council approve planting of a full tree grove (Option A) on a portion of City Hall lands as outlined in this report.

8.

 

To define a mechanism to handle Notices of Motion being placed on the agenda.  This bylaw is on the agenda for THREE READINGS.

To secure 327 market rental units and 10 below-market rental units at 612 Seventh Avenue for 60 years or the life of the building (whichever is longer).  This bylaw is on the agenda for ADOPTION.

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine


Whereas the City of New Westminster approved our Age-Friendly Community Strategy in 2017; and


Whereas there has been no major update regarding the status of this strategy; and


Whereas there has not been any significant additional capacity in terms of new assisted living, long-term care or independent seniors living residents since the introduction and approval of the strategy; and


Whereas it is critical if seniors are to age in place within our community there is additional capacity in long-term care, assisted living and independent living units


BE IT RESOLVED that staff report back to Council regarding the resources required and staffing implications pertaining to providing an update and status report regarding the Age-Friendly City Strategy; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council prioritize the establishment of a 10-year target for the construction of new assisted living, independent living and long-term care residences within our City

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine


Whereas it is a core function of our City to maintain a healthy stock of trees on public property and to have dead trees removed in a timely manner; and


Whereas a number of sidewalks, boulevards and areas in the public realm have dead or dying trees that have been there for at least one year; and


Whereas the City is committed to keeping all of our publicly-owned trees healthy and free of disease and/or vandalism; and


Whereas the City may be planting a significant number of new trees as part of our capital plan


BE IT RESOLVED that staff report back regarding the resources required and staffing implications to conduct an audit of how many dead or dying trees are on city sidewalks, boulevards and adjacent to arterials that require replacement; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report incorporate the estimated costs associated with the removal of all dead and/or dying trees on city-owned land and have them replanted prior to the April 2024; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon approval of this resolution any tree on city-owned property which must be cut down to a stump will be removed and replanted within a 12 month period

Submitted by Councillor Fontaine


Whereas for low-income youth whose families may not have access to a vehicle and the means to provide transit passes, and youth facing marginalization, transit access is a survival lifeline to access shelter, school, support services, health care, and food security; and


Whereas the cost of ensuring at-risk youth can access the essential programs and services funded to support youth outcomes in BC is downloaded onto non-profits that often struggle to ‘remove the access barrier’ of lack of access to transit; and


Whereas youth-in-need may miss the lifesaving supports available in BC due to mobility poverty and lack of access to transit is an avoidable travesty solved with free transit up to age 18; and


Whereas the City of New Westminster is committed to supporting our youth as well as issues which address equity, diversity and inclusivity


BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of New Westminster endorse the Single Mothers’ Alliance Transit for Teens Campaign; and in doing so, the Mayor write a letter to the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation, the board of directors of BC Transit, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy, the Office of the Premier, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, the Ministry of Education and Child Care, the Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit, the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth to work with the provincial government to finalize and secure funding, and develop a plan that will provide free public transit for teens aged 13 to 18 in B.C.

To provide Council with information about East Columbia Street at Brunette Avenue, including background information, planning history, crash history, and the steps being taken to address design, safety, and operational concerns.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council direct staff to proceed with the next steps as outlined in this report.

To seek Council’s direction on changes to a motion regarding a Call to Action on Creating more Equitable Municipalities proposed for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities meeting in September 2023.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council support the proposed UBCM motion, approve co-sponsorship of the motion and direct staff to communicate this decision to LMLGA.

 


 


*Some personal information is collected and archived by the City of New Westminster under Section 26(g)(ii) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and for the purpose of the City’s ongoing commitment to open and transparent government. If you have any questions about the collection of personal information please contact Legislative Services, 511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, V3L 1H9, 604-527-4523.

On February 28, 2023 the Province of British Columbia tabled a budget for the upcoming fiscal year and a three year plan. This report outlines the funding commitments over the three year fiscal plan of interest to local governments.

  • Recommendation:

    THAT Council accept the following report for information.

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